Sustainability grants and funding

Partner with the council to maximise your efforts

When you make your home more sustainable, you make a valuable contribution to improving the environment – not only for yourself, but your local community too. Supporting sustainability can also help lower running costs, save energy, water and create an overall healthier environment for yourself, your family and pets.

City of Sydney: Environmental performance ratings and assessment grants

The cost of obtaining an environment rating or assessment can often be a deterrent for strata committees. This program encourages owners to take advantage of this by providing grants to assist with the costs associated with environment ratings, certifications, audits and assessments for buildings.

What do they aim to achieve?

  • Improved knowledge of the current environmental performance and to identify the potential for improvement areas
  • Improved energy and water efficiency, indoor environment quality and reduced waste impacts
  • Increased uptake of ratings and certification tools that benchmark environmental performance.

How does the owners corporation benefit?

Up to $10,000 is available for water and energy assessments that could include lighting assessments, technical investigations of plant and equipment, or whole-building water and energy assessments. A NABERS for Apartment Buildings rating must be undertaken with this assessment unless there’s a current rating already in place.

The committee should also commit to implementing the recommended operational improvements. The amount and type of funding available depends on the rating and implementation stage of your proposal.

What are the assessment criteria?

 Applications are open for owners corporations, with the key assessment criteria based on the following:

  • Size of building and projected carbon, energy, water, waste to landfill and cost savings
  • Quality of proposal: justification and need
  • Commitment and the capability to deliver on the project
  • Contractor and partner credentials and capacity to deliver the project
  • Clear, detailed and realistic plan that demonstrates value for money.

When is the application closing date?

This grant is awarded twice a year, with applications for round 1 closing around March and round 2 closing around August each year.

Where can I find more information?

Contact City of Sydney, call 02 9265 9333, email cityconcierge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

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City of Sydney: Environmental performance innovation grant

This City of Sydney grant aims to support testing or use of new technologies or processes that support greenhouse gas emission reductions, climate adaptation efforts, resource efficiencies, sustainable transport or greening initiatives.

 

What do they aim to achieve?

  • Renewable energy production
  • Strengthened climate adaptation measures
  • Improved resource efficiency
  • Improved air quality
  • More urban greening and biodiversity

How does the owners corporation benefit?

Funding is available in two categories:

  1. Feasibility studies: Projects that have progressed past the development stages and are ready for small scale feasibility testing. Up to $20,000 is available with the owners corporation needing to match funds by 25% or more in cash or value-in-kind.
  2. Demonstration projects: Projects that are now seeking uptake of the innovation. Up to $80,000 is available with funds to be matched by 50% or more in cash or value-in-kind by the owners corporation.

What are the assessment criteria?

Applications are open for owners corporations, with the key assessment criteria based on the following:

  • Within the local area or be able to demonstrate benefits for the community
  • Contribution to supporting sustainability
  • Quality of proposal: justification and need
  • Commitment and the capability to deliver on the project
  • Contractor and partner credentials and capacity to deliver the project
  • Clear, detailed and realistic plan that demonstrates value for money.
  • Evidence of regular monitoring and verification
  • Quality of supporting documentation

When is the application closing date?

This grant is awarded twice a year, with applications for round 1 closing around March and round 2 closing around August each year.

Where can I find more information?

Contact City of Sydney, call 02 9265 9333, email cityconcierge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

City of Sydney: Smart Green apartments program

Smart Green Apartments is an award-winning program organised by the City of Sydney to help more buildings become more energy and water efficient, saving thousands of dollars on running and maintenance costs.

The program identifies opportunities for environmental savings in high-rise apartment buildings and provides retrofitting implementation support such as lighting upgrades, installing variable speed drives on pumps and fans or rooftop solar panels.

How does the owners corporation benefit?

  • A NABERS for Apartment Buildings rating
  • Energy and waste assessments and action plans
  • Upgrade recommendations
  • Online data portal access
  • Access to Sydney Water’s WaterFix program
  • Implementation support.

What do they aim to achieve?

The program aims to provide the information, tools and support necessary to enable strata properties to become more sustainable.

What are the assessment criteria?

Applications are open for owners corporations, with the key assessment criteria based on the following:

  • Evaluation of their energy and water consumption
  • The size and complexity
  • Commitment and the capability to deliver on the project

When will applications open?

Applications for this program is currently closed. You can stay up-to-date about the next round of this grant through the City of Sydney’s smart green apartments newsletter.

Where can I find more information?

If you are interested in future rounds, call  02 9288 7608 or email smartapartments@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au to register your interest. For more information visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

North Sydney Council: Futureproofing Apartments

The Futureproofing Apartments program was launched to support sustainability and reduce costs for small to medium-sized strata properties, with a focus on energy savings for common property.

How does the owners corporation benefit?

  • Energy assessments performed by industry specialists
  • Detailed reports which will clearly illustrate the financial case for upgrades
  • Attendance at strata meetings if requested to help communicate benefits of building upgrades
  • General support, workshops and information sessions

Plus, the following outcomes:

  • A NABERS for Apartment Buildings assessment to the value of $1500.
  • A solar feasibility assessment
  • A feasibility study if required for special and complex opportunities such as renewable heat for space heating or centralised hot water system (HWS) fuel swapping or complex solar opportunities.

What are the assessment criteria?

Applications are open for owners corporations of apartment buildings with:

  1. 10 lots or less
  2. 20 lots or less
  3. 21 lots or more.

When is the application closing date?

Applications for the third round of the grant will close in late September 2021. Applications for the next round will likely open some time next year, so stay tuned.  

 

Where can I find more information?

If you are interested in future rounds, call 02 9936 8461, email ian.garradd@northsydney.nsw.gov.au or visit northsydney.nsw.gov.au.

Lane Cove Council: Greener Apartments Program

Lane Cove’s Greener Apartments Program is an initiative to assist strata properties reduce their energy, water and waste resulting in potentially thousands of dollars of savings per year.

The council will work with a select number of apartments to identify opportunities to reduce operating costs, common area energy use, gas use, water use, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

What do they aim to achieve?

Greener Apartments is a pilot project with the goal of creating case studies to demonstrate to other apartment buildings and strata properties the benefits of conducting energy efficiency, water and waste assessments and upgrades.

 

How does the owners corporation benefit?

  • Energy, water and waste efficiency assessments conducted by industry specialists
  • Detailed reports clearly illustrating the financial case for upgrades
  • Implementation support

What are the assessment criteria?

Applications are open for owners corporations, with the key assessment criteria based on the following:

  • Contribution to supporting sustainability
  • Commitment and the capability to deliver on the project
  • Opportunities for energy, waste and water reductions
  • Prospect of providing case studies for buildings with similar facilities.

When is the application closing date?

Applications are currently open for this program and will close when the quota has been filled. To apply please complete the online form.

Where can I find more information?

Contact Lane Cove Council, call 02 9911 3699, email FMcCleary@lanecove.nsw.gov.au or visit lanecove.nsw.gov.au.

Waverley Council: Building Futures

The Building Futures program aims to assist larger strata properties save money on their energy and water bills and to improve environmental performance.

What do they aim to achieve?

All participating buildings will work towards a shared energy goal which is to reduce energy usage for common property by 15% by means of the following:

  • Lower operating costs
  • Less energy and water usage
  • Less greenhouse gas emissions
  • Improved waste management

How does the owners corporation benefit?

  • Energy assessments of common areas
  • Upgrade recommendations
  • Solar power screening
  • Access to Sydney Water’s WaterFix program
  • Access to Waverley Council’s Apartment Recycling Improvement Program
  • Implementation support.

What are the assessment criteria?

Applications are open for owners corporations of a strata property located in the Waverley Council area with more than 35 lots, who are committed to implement energy-saving measures to the value of up to $3,500 maximum and be willing to participate in a Council-led case study.

When is the application closing date?

The current program is closed. However, they are looking at running future rounds or alternative strata sustainability programs in the future.

 

Where can I find more information?

If you are interested in future rounds, call 02 9083 8150 or email rachel.oleary@waverley.nsw.gov.au to register your interest. For more information visit waverley.nsw.gov.au.

Waverley Council: Solar my Strata

Solar my Strata helps owners corporations identify and implement rooftop solar solutions to power common property areas or lots.

What do they aim to achieve?

The aim of the program is to assist owners corporations reduce electricity costs, provide clean green energy, cut carbon emissions, and future-proof against rising electricity prices.

How does the owners corporation benefit?

Waverley Council will pay for the professional expert support and resources to provide a solar power feasibility assessment, technical advice, assistance with obtaining the best quotes, and access to general information.

What are the assessment criteria?

Applications are open for owners corporations of a strata property located in the Waverley Council area with 45 lots or less.

When is the application closing date?

The pilot program is closed. However, they are looking at running future rounds or alternative strata sustainability programs in the future.

Where can I find more information?

If you are interested in future rounds, email secondnature@waverley.nsw.gov.au to register your interest. For more information visit waverley.nsw.gov.au.

Ku-ring-gai Council: Smart Units

Ku-ring-gai Council’s Smart Unit program offers a rebate towards improving energy and water efficiencies of common areas, with participating apartments achieving an average savings of 40% in energy consumption.

What do they aim to achieve?

To improve the environmental performance of common areas of apartment buildings within the Ku-ring-gai area.

How does the owners corporation benefit?

The program offers a total rebate of $4,000, with funding is available via two categories:

  1. A 50% rebate is available towards upgrades to improve the environmental performance of common areas of an apartment building up to $3000
  2. A rebate amount of up to $1000 is also available towards the cost of energy and/or water audit – eligible only after successfully reporting on performance indicators for a period of 12 months following the final implementation of efficiency measures.

What are the assessment criteria?

 Applications are open for owners corporations of apartment buildings with more of 20 lots. You will also need to commit as follows:

  • Engage an accredited auditor
  • Submit an audit report, action plan and utility bills within 60 days
  • Review and finalise an action plan with the council
  • Implement the project to receive the first rebate
  • Submit bills for a period of 12 months

To obtain the first 50% rebate capped at $3,000 you need to provide proof of the installations, and then on successful reporting over a 12-month period, the remaining 50% rebate – capped at $1,00, will be paid towards the audit costs.

When is the application closing date?

Applications are currently open and will stay open until funds are exhausted.

Where can I find more information?

Contact Ku-ring-gai Council, call 02 9424 0172 or visit kmc.nsw.gov.au.

Find out how to support sustainability

You can support sustainability and maximise savings on your utility bills and running costs for your strata property tooTo find out more on CommunityGreen and related information, contact us using the form on this page and we’ll be in touch soon.